CHAPTER 280: PROTECTING HER

Later that night, Adrian and Ella had dinner in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

After dinner, Ella retreated to her room and locked the door behind her.

Inside the study.

"Second Master, this... this and this one..." Ji Yan flipped through the pages of a file, pointing at the rectifications that had been made.

But midway through it, he stopped speaking when he realized that Adrian was not paying attention.

"Second Master?"

Adrian pushed himself to his feet, "How are things in Westra City?"

Ji Yan sighed, "After our visit this time, we have eliminated another batch of dregs who were responsible for the... tragedy back then. But, it’s impossible for the First young master to be alive..."

Adrian did not say anything, making it hard for one to understand what he was thinking.

Eventually, he left the study.

Ji Yan looked at his retreating back and sighed. The second Master is rarely so agitated, whether it’s for work or... This time, is it because Miss Yu is giving him the cold shoulder?

He was about to follow the man when suddenly, his phone rang.

Ji Yan answered the call and gradually, the light expression on his face vanished.

...

Adrian stood in front of Ella’s room, glancing at the closed door.

Frowning, he raised his hand and knocked.

Once. Twice.

But even after a few moments, there was no response from inside.

At this moment, there was the sound of hurried footsteps.

Adrian turned around, only to find Ji Yan running towards him.

"Good timing," Adrian narrowed his eyes and took a small step back, "Tear down this door."

Ji Yan nearly tripped when he heard that: "_" Sorry what?

When Ji Yan did not act, Adrian frowned.

Ji Yan glanced at the servants loitering around before he stepped forward and whispered something in Adrian’s ears.

Adrian’s face darkened.

Inside the bedroom, Ella could hear the sound of retreating footsteps.

’He left?’

Blinking, she pulled out her phone and made a call, "How are the arrangements going so far? Alright... but don’t mess anything up..."

...

In a dark underground chamber, the sound of screams echoed through the walls along with the occasional gunshots.

In the center of a small dark room, a man was tied to a chair, his limbs bound tightly. Every inch of his body was ridden in holes and wounds.

Only his barely opened eyes could confirm that he was still alive.

"Speak!" A bulky man approached him, landing a brutal kick on his stomach.

His body ricocheted backwards but before he could fall, the bulky man pressed down on the chair, "Can’t you see the Boss waiting?"

At the mere mention of ’Boss’, the man on the chair jerked forward. His gaze snapped to the darkness where he could see a metal glinting.

He opened his mouth but not a single word came out.

The bulky man grabbed his palm and twisted another finger, letting it fall limp like the rest of his fingers.

Another animalistic scream reverberated in the place.

"Back then, you were one of the people who had kidnapped the Boss and his Elder brother. You worked for that gang. But now that most of your gang members are dead, you dared to follow the Boss here... What is your intention? Speak!"

The man shivered, tears and snot rolling down his face as he backed into the chair.

The chair screeched as the person sitting on it rose to his feet.

"You won’t speak?" The voice was so frosty that the people in the surrounded chambers backed into the corners, afraid that they would attract the man’s attention.

The man’s entire body shook even more violently as he vigorously struggled.

Adrian stepped out of the shadows, his fingers twirling the gun once before he held it straight.

And then—

’Bang! Bang! Bang!’

Three bullets pierced straight between the man’s brows. Blood splattered everywhere.

The underground chamber sank into an eerie silence for a few long minutes before screams erupted in the place again.

"Second Master...!" Ji Yan rushed inside the place, only to pause when he saw the scene in the chamber.

As Adrian walked out of the place, Ji Yan followed him,"Second Master, that guy was our only lead..."

Adrian handed the gun to Ji Yan, frowning at the sight of blood on his suit.

Ji Yan gulped when he saw Adrian’s current appearance. Hands drenched in blood, red staining his suit, his entire self enshrouded in an ominous aura...

Inhaling a deep breath, Ji Yan continued, "With him dead, we are once again left with no clue to get to the bottom of that matter..."

"He was clueless," Adrian said suddenly.

A hint of confusion flickered across Ji Yan’s face, "Before this, you would never let such a crucial lead die. Even if there was the slightest chance that they knew something."

Adrian paused and looked up at the gradually brightening sky, "I have to protect her."

Ji Yan’s eyes widened, "You did it for Miss Yu?"

Minutes passed but to his question, Adrian gave no reply.

Yet suddenly, things became clearer in Ji Yan’s eyes.

The reason Adrian killed that man without hesitation was because he trailed after them to the Vermilion City.

And in Vermilion City was the person Adrian wanted to protect the most.

Despite his past grudges and current goals, Adrian would never let such a threat survive, in case he brings harm to Ella in the future.

"But, soon, it is the Annual Event of the King Empires. If you take Miss Yu as your date then she can no longer remain hidden from the others..."

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. One could not guess what he was thinking.

Ji Yan pursed his lips but after a while, he opened his mouth again, "Second Master, it’s your birthday tom—"

Ji Yan promptly shut up when Adrian’s gaze snapped to him, eyes glinting with a silent warning.

"Perfume..." Adrian suddenly raised his hand.

Ji Yan fiddled in his pocket but just as he offered the exquisite mini perfume, Adrian retracted his hand.

"I will shower," the man mumbled under his breath before getting inside the car.

Ji Yan: "_"

...

In the Eve Mansion, a row of male servants queued up in front of the Master Bedroom, each holding rare herbs and essential oils in their hands.

One by one, they stepped into the Master Bedroom. And then, just as mysteriously, they walked away, speaking nothing of what happened inside.

That was the scene that Ella witnessed when she stepped out of her room.

When Bertha spotted her, she immediately walked up to her, "Miss Yu, actually the Second Master..."

Ella waved a hand, "It’s his business. I am not curious."

Bertha immediately quietened down.

When Ella walked downstairs, Bertha followed her to serve her.

"Miss Yu, would you want to wait for the Second Master for breakfast? He should be almost done—"

"I am quite busy so I will leave first..." Ella grabbed an apple and turned to leave.

Bertha stood there for a while even after Ella was gone.

"What happened mother? You don’t seem very happy..." Rin approached her.

"Miss Yu started treating the Second Master well out of nowhere but now..." Bertha shook her head, "I am afraid that things will go back to how they were."

"Miss Yu is not that kind of person,’’ Rin said confidently, "And even if that does happen, it’s not like the Second Master is not used to her cold treatment already," Rin added in a soft voice.

Bertha sighed, "A farmer who lives in a village suffering from drought, dreams of rain. Even a few drops would make him happy. But what will happen if it suddenly rains continuously for a week?"

Rin stroked her chin, "He will be very happy."

"And he will wish for more," Bertha said helplessly, "But if that rain stops, he can no longer go back to dreaming of raindrops. He will be devastated."

"Mother..." Rin scratched her hair, "I feel like you are overthinking things..."

In the Master Bedroom, Adrian was finally dressed in a brand new suit, sparkling from head to toe.

The moment he stepped out of the room, Ji Yan came to bow to him.

Adrian raised his hand, "Do I stink?"

"_"

Still accustomed to his Second Master’s lack of confidence, Ji Yan sniffed once, hesitatingly and then shook his head, "Second Master, you smell like... like..."

"Like?"

Searching his vocabulary intensively, Ji Yan straightened up, "Like spring rain! Miss Yu would definitely like it!"

Satisfied, Adrian walked off to Ella’s room, his eyes twinkling.

But when he opened the room, the place was completely empty.

"Second Master," Bertha bowed to the man, "Miss Yu said she was busy today so she left in a rush..."

Adrian paused, the twinkle in his eyes gradually dimmed.